Credit: Matt Stone

ON THE LOOSE: Wide receiver Julian Edelman is one of 12 Patriots free agents who officially can begin to explore their options on March 11.

FOXBORO — Before Bill Belichick can truly explore outside assets to help improve the Patriots’ title shot in 2014, the coach and his staff must determine the most productive method to handle their in-house responsibilities.

Free agency begins March 11, seven weeks from today, and Belichick said it can take between four and eight weeks to really determine the value of their own players with expiring contracts. Clearly, those decisions have multiple layers, and one of the most pressing issues involves their management of the salary cap.

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